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Name - Aria Ashford

Age - 23 years old

Nature - Introvert, Quite, Gentle, Not sociable, Sweet talker when comfortable, Bad mental health, Gets nightmares that leave her shaking.

Hobbies - Love to read and write books. Writing is the only place where her thoughts feel safe. She writes stories about girls who get saved, because no one saves her.

Description -A sweet girl with a soft voice but hates her mother, Alana. Thinks nobody cares for her and everyone just pretends that they care because she’s the Ashford heir. Always socially anxious that something bad will happen the moment she relaxes. Emotionally weak and hides her panic attacks under her blankets. She believes she’s a burden, a problem people are forced to deal with. Her mother’s control has convinced her that she can’t survive alone, and that terrifies her more than anything. But don't take her silence as peace she observes more than you can imagine.

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Name - Alex Gryphon

Age - 24 years old

Nature -Cold, Stern, Expressionless always, Hates who disobey rules, A little softie but no one has ever seen it.

Job - Bodyguard. Shadows Aria’s every step like he was born for it.

Skills -Good fighting skills, Sharp mind, Reads people faster than they read books. Can take down a room without making a sound.

Description -Serious about his duty. His only order is to protect Aria at all cost, and he follows it like it’s law. Pretends he don’t care but in reality he really does. He memorizes how she takes her tea, which book makes her smile, and which nights her nightmares are worse. But he never says a word. There’s something about him that doesn’t fit. The way he looks at Alana when she isn’t watching. The way his jaw tightens when Aria flinches at her mother’s voice. His identity holds a secret she isn’t ready for. A secret that could either break her or save her. But for now, he’s just her silent shadow and shadows don't expose themselves so easily.He is knows for his mysterious expression.

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Name - Alana Ashford (Aria Ashford mother)

Age - 47 years old

Nature - Strict, Clever, Cruel, Manipulative and Controlling. Speaks in orders, not affection.

Description -Loves money and business. To her, emotions are liabilities and people are investments. Wants Aria’s every step, every breath, every decision under her thumb. She monitors Aria’s calls, chooses her clothes, and decides who is worthy of standing near her daughter. She hired Alex herself, but even she doesn’t fully trust him. Alana believes control is love, and weakness deserves punishment. She built an empire by crushing others and expects Aria to inherit it without question. She doesn’t know that the cage she built for Aria is starting to crack.Her past buried deeper than her secrets.But she doesn't know that the cage she build for aria is starting to crack and the keys might not be in her hands anymore. She is hiding a secret no one is ready for.

Author's pov - (People says that family is everything.The people that loves u cares about u always remain by your side always be with you. Isnt it quite surprising that everyone can't have these privilege. In reality most people crave for these love. Everyone loves to show off what they don't even have but reality is quite cruel. Because person get broken when he/she realises nobody really cares about them. According to me when we got a right person in our life even a bitter coffee tastes sweet. Because they changes everything our perspective the way we see the world. This is the story about a girl who believes that everyone is cruel heartless and her mother with a deep dark secret but what happens when a person entry in her life changes everything ).

Aria pov - I come out of room going downstairs and got welcomed by a hard slap which was none other than my mother(Alana Ashford).I look at her my hand still on my cheek which was red now but my expression not sad nor shock just expressionless.Because it was nothing new for me. She grabbed me by my wrist.

Alana - I think u have completely lost ur mind or something isnt it. HUH!! What nonsence did u said at Mr Steve(Alana business partner) party. Do u see their faces what bad impression u put infront of them.Do u have any idea that how much important deal was it for me.I told u to be sincere. Says what i asked you to speak.I think u have completely lost your manners.

Aria - I bitterly chuckled staring at her .What's new in it?Do u even care about me how do i feel?HOW I ALWAYS FEEL ALONE SUFFOCATED IN YOUR STUPID BUSINESS PARTIES.DO U EVEN PROPERLY EVEN TALK TO ME.Always controlling everything what i spoke what i do? I scoffed looking at her you? You are talking about manners it doesnt suit u mom.

(I look at her. Her face was raging with anger.)

Alana - YOUNG LADY YOU ARE CROSSING YOUR LIMITS DONT MAKE ME DO SOMETHING WHICH U REGRET YOUR WHOLE LIFE.

Aria - I look at her blankly what will u do.Kill me ........Just like u end dad's life .( I look at her as tears were rolling down my eyes).

Alana - ARIA ASHFORD ( I raise my hand to slap her but stop) . To your room NOW.

Aria - Why..... can't bear to hear the truth OR YOU JUST WANNA IGNORE THE FACTS THAT WHAT U DID IN REALITY. WHY ARE U QUITE NOW SPEAK SOMETHING.(Suddenly she yelled for mrs maria the head maid).

Alana - MARIA TAKE HER BACK TO HER ROOM NOW.SHE HAD LOST HER MIND STUPID CHILD.

(Maria come running grabbing aria arm scared)

Maria - Young mistress please come with me let's go to your room.(I said dragging her upstairs to her room).

Aria - YOU CAN'T STOP ME MOM. YOU HAD RUIN EVERYTHING. YOU THINK YOU CAN ALWAYS HIDE THE TRUTH. YOU ARE WRONG VERY WRONG( I said crying loudly screaming at her but she....she just look at me with cold hatered look).

Alana pov -( I felt my forehead sweating as i wiped my face calling my secretary Sana). Sana arrange the meeting with mr steve at evening we are heading now.(Sana nodded with serious expression).

Sana - Yes Mam.

Meanwhile at aria's room

Aria pov - (I was breathing heavily trembling madly finding my medicines in my room drawers as i couldnt breathe properly).

Maria - (I quickly come as i found her medicine quickly giving to her). Calm down young mistress please breathe.

Aria - (I quickly take my medicine from aunt maria as i gulp it in one go and fell to my bed. Tears were still rolling down my eyes. I look at aunt maria). Sometimes i feel like i might die someday like these aunt.

Maria - Young mistress please don't say like these please calm down u are hurting yourself.

Aria - Hurting myself?(I chuckled sadly looking at her) I am already aunt what more worse she can do. Everyone sees it. Aunt please just please go i need some space.

Maria - Call me if u need anything (I sighed as i patted her head nodding and i left her room closing the door).

Aria pov - (As aunt left i finally break down). Why just why can't i live peacfully. I never ever did anything wrong then why just why can't i g.....get a l...little bit of happiness.(I wipe my tears and stand infront of the window). You think u can hide everything u did mom. You are selfish,cruel that u don't even care about your own child happiness.No matter what you did the bad deeds u do will always come back no matter how much u hide pretend everything is okay. But in reality you also know what is the truth...........

 ........TO BE CONTINUED........

Aria pov - (It's been days since that arguement with mom.She usually don't stays at home due to always ongoing business trips,meeting clients.In simple words she rarely comes house which was good for me.Because there is usually maids and guards in the house no one else.But still i was always under there eyes what i am doing, what's my routine. And lot of time i went out of house quitely because i feel suffocated in my own house. No freedom to do anything. And she hates when i go outside and i know very well why she hates it).

Alana pov - (I was in my cabin sitting doing my work. When my secretary sana. I look at her as always in stern and cold expression). What is it?(I look at her and she look nervous telling what was it but i already get my answer). She went outside again without telling anyone right?(She nod looking at me).

Sana - Yes Mam. Young Mistress went to that same old library.

Alana - (I clench my fist hard trying to calm myself). She knows very well how to test my patience. No worries i have a good solution for it. She loves that library too much isnt it now i see how she can go back there again.(I said with a smirk).

Sana - Mam wait y...y.ou w....what are you thinking to do??

Alana - Oh don't worry i am not that cruel. Just i got a perfect way to control her. You can go now.(She nodded as she left my cabin closing the door. I lean on my chair thinking). These is going to be fun little daughter...

(After few days ago....)

Aria pov - (I come out of bathroom and notice something in my room why were my books?? The shelves they were empty. Every single book was dissappeared. I quickly ran opening my room down running downstairs and saw aunt maria cleaning. I ran towards her but as she saw me her face went pale. Like she had seen ghost). Aunt where are my all books?? Aunt say something? (But she just look at me with a guilty expression).

Maria - Yo....o...u.....n..n..ng M...i.....s.....t.....t...re...ss actually in backyard...(but she didnt even hear me and ran towards the backyard area. And i quickly follow her trying to stop her).

Aria pov - (I reached in the backyard and my heart shattered what i saw all my books i ever read or write of my own were in flames now. I just stared with wide and shock eyes as i quickly went stumbling trying to remove the flames somehow even my hands were burned. I watch as my all books were covered in flames. And my favourite and first ever book that was given by none other than but my dad. The one and only last thing i have of my dad were also gone. Each page, each cover crumbled and burned now. They were now nothing but just some ashes. My one and only thing which give me a little happiness and peace from all the chaos going on in my life. They were destroyed ..... each and every piece just like my heart. I fell on my knees looking as my each book was inside the flames now. Tears rolling down my eyes tearing my heart just like the flames were doing to my peace which was gone now. Aunt maria she come towards me quickly worried about my hands that were burned but that time the burn didnt hurt as much the pain which i was feeling seeing my one and true love was burning infront of me. I don't even know what should i do what more worst could happen and then each pain each thing is more worst than other). She do these right.....(only one thing i said in broken voice as i just stared blankly at the flames not looking at aunt maria).

Maria - (My hurt ache as i saw her like that. Just why these innocent child is getting all these cruel pain which she don't even deserve. Oh God please let these girl live in atleast a little peace a little happiness why are you breaking her more. And then she said "she do these right". And my hurt broke because i know she was right she know who was behind it). Y...Y..oung m..mis....t...r..ess (but she cut me off as she look at me).

Aria - P...pl...lease a...aunt a...atleast you don't l...l..lie. She was here right and she did these . JUST GOD DAMN PLEASE SAY IT.....

Maria - (I look at her teary eyes which broke me when she yells the raw pain in her voice which i can see clearly. I shut my eyes as i nod with a tremble. She clenched her dress tightly breathing heavily grabbing her head as she couldn't take the pain).

(And then a raw loud cry escape from her mouth as she scream loudly crying harder clenching her chest. All the pain she was holding for too long was coming out. And worse i....i can do nothing to remove that pain but just look at her as my own tears roll down. I am sorry my child.....Y...Y...ou d...don't deserve all these pain. I.....I.....a...m s...sorry i..i can do nothing).

.......TO BE CONTINUED......